Latest news with #KevinHart
CairoScene
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Riyadh Comedy Festival to Host Over 50 Global Acts This September
This year's lineup includes big names such as Kevin Hart, Pete Davidson, Bill Burr, Gabriel Iglesias, Russell Peters, Jo Koy, Andrew Schulz, Sebastian Maniscalco, and Maz Jobrani. Riyadh Comedy Festival is set to run from September 26th to October 9th, bringing a packed programme of stand-up performances to Boulevard City. The festival is expected to host more than 50 comedians, making it one of the largest comedy events globally. This year's lineup includes big names such as Kevin Hart, Pete Davidson, Bill Burr, Gabriel Iglesias, Russell Peters, Jo Koy, Andrew Schulz, Sebastian Maniscalco, and Maz Jobrani, among others. Ticket details have not yet been announced. For updates on scheduling and bookings, audiences are advised to follow the festival's official Instagram page.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Saudi Arabia to hosts world's biggest comedy festival: Kevin Hart, Russell Peters among 50+ top comedians
Tickets for the Riyadh Comedy Festival, running September 26 to October 9, will be available starting August 1 on Image: X In a landmark move reflecting its ambitious Vision 2030 economic diversification plan, Saudi Arabia is set to host the world's largest comedy festival from September 26 to October 9, 2025, in Riyadh's vibrant Boulevard City. This historic event will gather more than 50 internationally acclaimed comedians, including household names like Kevin Hart , Russell Peters , Gabriel 'Fluffy' Iglesias, Pete Davidson , and Chris Tucker , marking a transformative moment in global entertainment. The festival is a central feature of Riyadh Season 2025, underscoring the Kingdom's drive to position itself as a leading hub for culture, tourism, and live events in the Middle East and beyond. The Biggest Comedy Festival Ever Assembles a Stellar Global Lineup Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority (GEA), under the leadership of Chairman Turki Alalshikh, has officially unveiled an unprecedented lineup of comedy stars for the inaugural Riyadh Comedy Festival. Announced via Alalshikh's official X account, the festival promises to be 'the biggest comedy festival in the world,' with over 50 performers from diverse backgrounds taking the stage in Boulevard City over two weeks. Among the headline acts are internationally renowned comedians such as Kevin Hart, Sebastian Maniscalco , and Russell Peters—the Canadian-Indian comedian famed for his multicultural material and worldwide fanbase. Hollywood icon Chris Tucker, celebrated for the Rush Hour franchise, and Aziz Ansari, Emmy winner and co-creator of Master of None , will also be featured. The festival further boasts Pete Davidson, known for Saturday Night Live and Peacock's Bupkis , as well as Tom Segura , whose Netflix special Bad Thoughts earned an Emmy nomination. Other notable names include podcast hosts Andrew Santino and Bobby Lee ( Bad Friends ), Emmy-nominated writer Nimesh Patel, Amazon Prime standout Sam Morril ( You've Changed ), and British-Iranian comedian Omid Djalili. Additional performers confirmed so far include Chris Distefano, Mark Normand, Hannibal Buress, six-time Emmy and three-time Grammy winner Louis C.K., and Australian favorite Jimeoin. The lineup continues with Andrew Schulz, Bill Burr, Jessica Kirson, Jimmy Carr, Jo Koy, Gabriel 'Fluffy' Iglesias, Maz Jobrani, Whitney Cummings, and Zarna Garg. These comedians represent a wide spectrum of comedic styles, from sharp political satire and deadpan delivery to high-energy storytelling and cultural commentary, ensuring that the festival appeals to a truly global audience. Boulevard City Transformed Into a Global Comedy Hub The entire event will unfold at Boulevard City, Riyadh's sprawling, high-tech entertainment district located in the Hittin area along Prince Turki Al-Awwal Road. Spanning over 220 acres, the venue is divided into themed zones, including open-air plazas, theaters, music stages, and the iconic Times Square-inspired 'Square' with towering digital screens. Known for hosting everything from concerts and sports tournaments to immersive exhibitions, Boulevard City offers a full-scale entertainment experience with more than 100 restaurants and cafés, retail outlets, VR arcades, and live performance areas. Its flagship Mohammed Abdo Arena seats up to 22,000 people, making it a centerpiece for large-scale events. For the festival's two-week run, the district will come alive with comedy stages, vibrant lighting, food trucks, and a buzzing crowd atmosphere. The venue can accommodate up to 60,000 visitors at a time, with past Riyadh Season events seeing peaks of 200,000 visitors daily. Tickets for the Riyadh Comedy Festival will go live in three days,1st August, on with high demand expected across all tiers. The festival will run from September 26 to October 9. This event is designed to be more than just a series of stand-up shows, organisers have confirmed daily programming including live stand-up, talk shows, comedy workshops, and interactive sessions that cater to audiences of all ages, creating an immersive festival experience. A Platform for Global Icons and Rising Regional Talent While global headliners are a major draw, the Riyadh Comedy Festival also plays a pivotal role in advancing Saudi Arabia's cultural landscape. It serves as a platform for regional performers and emerging Arab comedians, giving them rare international exposure. By sharing the stage with global icons, GCC-based talents in stand-up, digital media, and performance gain visibility and recognition, potentially marking major turning points in their careers. Chairman Turki Alalshikh has also hinted at upcoming programming featuring Gulf and Syrian theatre, regional music, and dedicated productions, reinforcing the festival's dual mission: bringing the world's best comedy to Riyadh, while projecting local talent to global audiences. Anchored in Vision 2030: A Cultural and Economic Milestone The Riyadh Comedy Festival is not a standalone event. it's a landmark chapter in Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's national roadmap for economic transformation through cultural diversification. By anchoring the comedy festival within Riyadh Season 2025, the Kingdom underscores its intention to become a top global destination for live entertainment, arts, and tourism. Saudi Arabia has already made significant strides, hosting international sporting events, K-pop supergroups, and Michelin-starred culinary showcases. Now, it turns the spotlight on comedy, an art form that bridges languages, generations, and cultures. The festival is expected to draw thousands of domestic and international visitors, boosting footfall in hotels, restaurants, and retail zones, while also offering invaluable exposure for Saudi Arabia's growing creative sector. With more performer announcements expected in the weeks ahead, the Riyadh Comedy Festival is poised to become one of the most culturally impactful, economically beneficial, and globally visible entertainment events the Kingdom has ever hosted.
Gulf Insider
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gulf Insider
Saudi Arabia To Host World's Largest Comedy Festival In Riyadh
Saudi Arabia is gearing up to host the world's largest comedy festival as part of its rapidly expanding entertainment portfolio, with some of the biggest names in global stand-up comedy set to take the stage in Riyadh this autumn. In a statement posted on his official X account, Turki Al Al Sheikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), announced the launch of the first Riyadh Comedy Festival, scheduled to run from September 26 to October 9, 2025. 'The king of comedy lands in Riyadh… Kevin Hart is ready to bring the house down at the largest comedy festival in the world,' Al Al Sheikh wrote, alongside a promotional video highlighting the festival's ambitious scale and international appeal. أسطورة الكوميديا جايكم الرياض.. كيفن هارت في #مهرجان_الرياض_للكوميديا أكبر مهرجان للكوميديا في العالم 🔥😎بوليفارد سيتي 📍26 سبتمبر – 9 أكتوبر 🗓️The king of comedy lands in Riyadh …Kevin Hart is ready to bring the house down at the Largest Comedy festival in the world 😎🔥… — TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) July 23, 2025 Among the first headliners confirmed for the event are Kevin Hart, Sebastian Maniscalco, and Russell Peters — the latter a Canadian comedian of Indian descent, widely recognised for his multicultural material and global fanbase. Set to take place in Boulevard City, the Riyadh Comedy Festival will bring together over 50 leading comedians from around the world for an electrifying celebration of comedy in all its forms. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Riyadh Comedy Festival will feature a packed daily lineup of entertainment, including live stand-up shows, talk shows, comedy workshops, and interactive sessions tailored for audiences of all ages. The festival is a central part of Riyadh Season 2025, the Kingdom's flagship cultural and entertainment initiative designed to diversify the economy and boost tourism as part of its Vision 2030 strategy. In a separate post last Wednesday, Al Al Sheikh hinted at further major announcements for the upcoming season, including a focus on Gulf and Syrian content, with plans for theatrical productions and concerts celebrating regional talent.
UPI
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
JACKBOYS & Travis Scott's 'Jackboys 2' tops U.S. album chart
JACKBOYS & Travis Scott's "Jackboys 2" is No. 1 on the U.S. album chart this weekend. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo July 26 (UPI) -- JACKBOYS & Travis Scott's Jackboys 2 is No. 1 on the U.S. album chart this weekend. Coming in at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart dated Saturday is Justin Bieber's Swag, followed by Morgan Wallen's I'm the Problem at No. 3, Clipse's Let God Sort Em Out at No. 4 and the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack at No. 5. Rounding out the top tier are Twice's This is For at No. 6, ATEEZ's Golden Hour Part 3 at No. 7, Giveon's Beloved at No. 8, Wallen's One Thing at a Time at No. 9 and SZA's SOS at No. 10. BET Awards: Kevin Hart, Keke Palmer walk the red carpet Kevin Hart arrives on the red carpet for 25th annual BET Awards at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on June 9, 2025. Photo by Greg Grudt/UPI | License Photo
FACT
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- FACT
Everything we know about the first-ever Riyadh Comedy Festival
Catch comedians from Kevin Hart to Jo Koy. The first-ever Riyadh Comedy Festival has been announced. Running from 26 September to 9 October, the event takes place at Boulevard City. The line-up includes local and international comedians, from Andrew Schulz to Bill Burr. More names will be announced closer to the festival. If you'd like to have a laugh, here's what you need to know. Andrew Schulz The American stand-up comedian Andrew Schulz always comes close to the line with his jokes. He is quick-witted, fearless, and has made a name for himself on social media. He has already performed in Abu Dhabi and is heading to Riyadh. From selling out Radio City Music Hall to his wildly popular Netflix special Schulz Saves America, he's proven time and again that he's a comedic powerhouse. Bill Burr The Emmy and Grammy-nominated comedian stands out as one of the most influential comedic voices of his generation. Burr's accolades include hosting Saturday Night Live twice, starring as JFK in Jerry Seinfeld's Netflix film Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story, and directing, co-writing, and starring in Old Dads on Netflix. Gabriel Iglesias Gabriel Iglesias, nicknamed Fluffy, hails from California, United States. He charms audiences with his impressions and storytelling. He has created stand-up routines for Comedy Central and Netflix, and has also earned the accolade of being one of the top ten highest-paid comedians in the world. Jessica Kirson Jessica, from New Jersey, United States, is of Jewish descent and often draws on this in her comedy. Her unique stream-of-consciousness style and animated delivery have made her a staple on New York's comedy scene, performing at major venues such as Gotham Comedy Club and the Laugh Factory. Jim Jefferies Born in Sydney, Australia, Jim Jefferies created and starred in the FX sitcom Legit. He also created the late-night show The Jim Jefferies Show and hosted The 1% Club. He has performed worldwide, from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to the Glastonbury Festival. Jimmy Carr The British-Irish comedian recently brought his world tour, Laughs Funny, to Abu Dhabi. Now, he's heading to Riyadh with his deadpan one-liners and dark humour. He began his career in 1997 and has appeared on several TV shows, including A Comedy Roast, 8 Out of 10 Cats, and many more. Jo Koy Jo Koy, from Washington, United States, dropped out of university to pursue stand-up comedy. He started performing in coffee houses in Las Vegas before landing a regular night at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. He has appeared on shows such as Chelsea Lately and The Adam Carolla Show, and created Netflix specials including Jo Koy: Comin' in Hot and Jo Koy: Live from Seattle. Kevin Hart Kevin Hart hails from Pennsylvania, United States. Early in his career, performing as Lil Kev, he was booed off stage – once even having chicken thrown at him. Today, he is a global comedy superstar. Known for his high-energy shows filled with personal anecdotes, he has performed across the Middle East, from Abu Dhabi to Riyadh. Maz Jobrani American-Iranian comedian Maz Jobrani was part of the Axis of Evil comedy group. He starred in and co-wrote the comedy film Jimmy Vestvood: Amerikan Hero and has appeared in TV shows such as Curb Your Enthusiasm, Grey's Anatomy, Last Man Standing, and Shameless. His stand-up special Immigrant is available on Netflix. Russell Peters Russell Peters, from Toronto, Canada, is a comedy legend. Known for his lightning-fast wit, sharp timing, and hilarious audience interactions, he shot to fame with CTV's Comedy Now. Of Anglo-Indian descent, he's won Emmy, Gemini and Peabody awards. Sebastian Maniscalco Sebastian Maniscalco, from Illinois, United States, is the son of Italian immigrants. Influenced by greats like George Carlin and Jerry Seinfeld, he has released six comedy specials. In 2017, he transitioned into film, with roles in The House, Green Book, The Irishman, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023). Whitney Cummings Whitney Cummings is a multi-talented comedian, director, producer, and writer. She created the sitcom 2 Broke Girls and starred in and produced Whitney. Her stand-up routines explore gender and relationships with sharp, brutally honest humour. Zarna Garg Indian-American comedian Zarna Garg brings a fresh voice to the scene. Her material draws from her Indian heritage, immigrant experience, and motherhood. She made her TV debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where she hilariously shared how she once posted an advert to find a husband. Check in with FACT for the best things to do in Riyadh. GO: Visit for more information.
